The conference venues will be the Department of Education of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (www.auth.gr) and the Department of Educational Policy of the University of Macedonia (www.uom.gr ), both centrally located in the city of Thessaloniki.
The participants will find directions on how to get from the hotel to the conference venue, upon their arrival.

Internet facilities
Internet WIFI access will be available at the conference sites. Also specially designated computer rooms will be available for participants use during the conference dates.

Food during the conference
Lunches will be arranged for the PME34 participants for 4 days and will be served at the conference sites

Morning and afternoon coffee breaks will take place as scheduled (see Timetable).

Special dietary requirements should be indicated in the Final Registration Form. Lunches will include a variety of international and national dishes, including a selection of vegetarian food. Those who want kosher or halal food can either eat the vegetarian option OR use the indicated restaurants (a map will be provided for this purpose).

For evening meals, Thessaloniki offers a great variety of restaurants.

You can find information in the guide which will be provided by the organizers.

Trade Publishers stands
The PME33 Organizing Committee welcome all groups interested in reaching the audience of the conference to present in the exhibition area their projects, materials, software and other products related to mathematics education.

Thessaloniki is the second largest city in the country, in the district of central Macedonia with a continuous 3000-year history. With almost one million inhabitants, Thessaloniki is an important economic, commercial, intellectual and cultural centre for Greece and South-East Europe. Thessaloniki is one of the rare cities in Europe having a long and continuous history. Prehistoric settlements prove that the area has been inhabited since the fifth or sixth millennium BC. The real history of the city began around 315-316 BC when Kassandros, husband of Thessaloniki, sister of Alexander the Great, unified 26 neighboring settlements into one large town, which he then named after his wife.

Since then, the exceptional strategic and geographical position of the city and its rich inland made it an important centre during the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods, as well as throughout the years of the Turkish occupation. Thessaloniki has always been considered as a major metropolitan area in the region, linking Western Europe and the northern Balkans to the "eastern Greek world" and the eastern Mediterranean world. The important role of Thessaloniki is also demonstrated by the consecutive visits that the Apostle Paul paid it in 50 A.D. and 57 A.D. Here, Paul established the first Christian church in the European continent.

Its long multiethnic and multicultural history is documented in a wealth of monuments, from ancient ruins dating 23 centuries back to important churches dating from the 5th century and still in use. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to visit all monuments and museums in guided tours, organized by the conference secretariat during the conference.

Thessaloniki is a contemporary, diverse city that offers all modern facilities while at the same time remaining cozy and friendly. In its cosmopolitan atmosphere, street cafes and tasteful restaurants be they traditional or trendy to combine life in the fast lane with the art of relaxing. As a financial and trading centre, Thessaloniki boasts a shopping district that offers a large variety of local and imported products.

The choice of Thessaloniki as "Cultural Capital of Europe" for 1997 was a fair recognition of the city's significant cultural activities and history. The Archaeological and Byzantine museums, the numerous well-preserved antiquities and churches, along with the concert halls, theatres, rich culinary tradition and night life, all make Thessaloniki a wonderful place to live and work in.

Thessaloniki is located at the northern side of Greece, 500 km (310 miles) north of Athens. It is linked by air, train and bus with Athens and other European countries.

By Air
Thessaloniki has its own international airport “Makedonia” and flights connect it with major European cities. There are several local flights connecting Thessaloniki to Athens.
The airport is situated 16 km (10 miles) away from the city. Car hire services, coach and taxi services are all available at the airport. For the taxis, the fare is around 15€.
For further information contact Macedonia International Airport, www.thessalonikiairport.gr

By Train
Thessaloniki is connected by train to Athens and other Balkan cities. There is a regular rail connection to Athens several times a day. The journey is approximately 4h 15 min to 5h 45 min.
For further information contact Railway schedule in Greece: www.ose.gr

By Coach Bus
The bus service in Thessaloniki is well organised in order to offer multiple destinations with frequent departures throughout the day. Buses link Thessaloniki to Athens and other main towns in Greece including villages in Chalkidiki as well. Bus tickets from Athens to Thessaloniki costs about 25 € and the trip takes 5h 30 min approx.

Thessaloniki has a good public transportation system that can be used to travel throughout the city centre and beyond the city limits. Getting around is possible by bus and taxis as both are easily available throughout the city and they have low costs. There are regular bus and tax services between Macedonia International Airport and the city center.
However, as Thessaloniki is a relatively small city with all its prime attractions within close proximity to each other, it can be easily explored on foot.
All major car rental companies have branches at Macedonia Airport. Cars can also be rented from the downtown branches in Thessaloniki. The cost of taxi is approximately 4-6 euro for short distances

Useful links about Thessaloniki:
Municipality of Thessaloniki
www.saloniki.org

Greece at a nutshell

Greece is situated in Southeastern Europe, has an area of 131,957 sq. km and a population of 10,964,020. The capital city of Greece is Athens. Greece’s coastlines reach an astonishing 13.676 kilometers’ length, with more than 2.000 islands.

Greece is a modern and developed country with a history of more than 5000 years It inherited from the Ancient Greece, the Roman and Byzantine Empires and nearly four centuries of Ottoman rule. Greece is the birthplace of many philosophical, political, scientific and mathematical principles, the origin of the Olympic Games and of the western drama including both ‘tragedy’ and ‘comedy’.

Greece is a country that offers to its visitors unique experiences related to nature beauties of endless seashores and islands, special atmosphere and fascinating journeys into civilization through its museums, galleries and monuments.

Athens, the capital city of Greece, famous throughout the world, is full of spectacular landmarks and monuments. Many of these, like Acropolis and Parthenon, date back over 2,500 years and are in remarkable condition.

From the harbor of Thessaloniki the visitor can travel by cruise liners, ferries or hydrofoils to many of the popular Greek destinations.

Links:
Ministry of Tourism - Greek National Tourism Organisation
Hellenic Culture

Languages
The official language of the conference is English. There will be no simultaneous translation.

Passport / VISA
Passport and visa requirements vary from country to country. Delegates requiring a letter of invitation in order to attend the conference, may write to the administrative secretariat specifying the necessary details. Please note that this procedure aims explicitly at assisting delegates who need to obtain a visa or permission to attend the conference. It is not an official invitation covering fees and other expenses and does not imply any financial support from the conference organisers. The registration fee must be settled for delegates who wish to claim an invitation letter. PME33 cannot be held responsible for any matters related to obtaining visas.
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For details please visit the Hellenic Republic, Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
http://www.ypex.gov.gr/www.mfa.gr/en-US

Greek Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad,
http://www2.mfa.gr/www.mfa.gr/en-US/Services/Directory/Greek+Missions+Abroad/GREEK+MISSIONS+ABROAD.htm#I

Currency
Since the 1st of January 2002, the Euro (EUR) is the currency of Greece. A currency converter is available here.

Electrical Appliances The electricity supply in Greece is alternating current, 220-250 volts, 50 cycles. Appliances for 110 or 120 volts may be operated by using step down transformers of 220 - 250/110 volts connected to each outlet.

Time Zone
Greece is in the Eastern European Time Zone. Eastern European Standard Time (EET) is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2). Like most states in Europe, the Summer (Daylight-Saving) Time is 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+3). Link: http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com

Greece Telephone Code
To call Greece, you will need to dial: International Access Code ++30 + number

Shopping
Greece is the ideal place to shop for a wide variety of products, catering to everybody’s tastes and needs. Prices are very reasonable in relation to product quality and visitors will be able to find something for every kind of budget.

Shops are open Monday through Friday from 09.00 till 21.00. On Saturdays shops stay open from 09.00 till 14.00, while they are closed on Sundays. Supermarkets and kiosks may stay open till 22.00.

Weather
Summers in Thessaloniki see average temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees , though temperatures over 35 degrees are not uncommon so be sure to pack sunscreen and light clothing if you re planning on doing some mid-day sightseeing. Rainfall during the summer is minimal and infrequent, and while temperatures can reach over 35 degrees they will almost never reach over 40 degrees.

Usefull links: Hellenic National Meteorological Service- www.hnms.gr, www.accuweather.com

Liability and insurance
The Local Organizing Committee does not accept any liability for personal injuries, or for loss, or damage to property belonging to conference participants ( or their accompanying persons) either during or as a result of the conference. Please, check the validity of your own insurance.

Useful telephone numbers, in case of emergency:
Emergency ambulance service: 166
On-duty hospitals, clinics, doctors & pharmacies: 1434
Police (Emergency number): 100
Regional Police Departments: 1033
SOS Doctors: 1016 (not provided under the National Health Service)

Tipping Advice
Tipping is acceptable in Greece. Although restaurants generally add a service charge directly to your bill, it is still good practice to leave a small tip for the waiter. Equally, porters, chambermaids and other service staff should be tipped, with the exception of taxi drivers who usually do not expect them.